Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 223	$ 201	$ 482	$ 435
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(1)	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(18)	37	46	(119)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	1	1	3
Pension and postretirement benefits	(1)	4	(1)	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18)	41	47	(116)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	205	242	529	319
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	4	(4)	6
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	203	246	525	325
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	222	205	478	441
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(1)	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(18)	37	46	(119)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	1	1	3
Pension and postretirement benefits	(1)	4	(1)	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18)	41	47	(116)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	204	246	525	325
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	204	246	525	325
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	222	206	478	441
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(1)	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(18)	37	46	(119)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	1	1	3
Pension and postretirement benefits	(1)	4	(1)	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18)	41	47	(116)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	204	247	525	325
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	204	247	525	325
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	189	215	431	455
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(1)	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(18)	56	36	(114)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	1	1	6
Pension and postretirement benefits	(1)	3	(1)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(18)	59	36	(109)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	171	274	467	346
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	171	274	467	346
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	153	123	359	240
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(1)	1	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(24)	74	58	(137)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	1	1	3
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	4	1	4
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(23)	78	61	(131)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	130	201	420	109
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	4	(4)	6
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	128	205	416	115
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(563)	(548)	(1,264)	(1,142)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	3	(2)	3
Foreign currency translation	60	(167)	(140)	370
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(3)	(3)	(3)	(12)
Pension and postretirement benefits	2	(11)	1	(5)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	59	(178)	(144)	356
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(504)	(726)	(1,408)	(786)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (504)	$ (726)	$ (1,408)	$ (786)